At this point, I did not anticipate or plan to publish another commentary by friend Roy H. Williams so soon. However, when his recent Monday Morning Memo showed up, I knew it warranted being shared.
Roy is known as the Wizard of Ads and co-founder with his wife Penny of the Wizard Academy … which sits high on a hilltop outside of Austin, Texas. It is also the home of Chapel Dulcinea. The Chapel is a small open-air chapel sitting on the edge of the hilltop and is likely the most popular wedding location in the world – it is just now celebrating its 20th anniversary.
If you are a regular reader of these Musings, you know about Roy, as his interesting and impactful commentaries have been offered on this page on several previous occasions.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
“Life… Liberty… and the pursuit of Happiness.”
We published those words 249 years ago when we declared our independence from Britain. That document was the earliest expression of what has come to be known as the American dream.
Jefferson’s Declaration did not free us from the tyranny of Britain. It merely communicated our collective desire to be unfettered and unrestrained.
Do we now feel unfettered and unrestrained? I think not.
It seems to me that our current view of the American dream sees raw ambition as “the pursuit of happiness.”
Ambition is like sexual hunger. It is satisfied with accomplishment only for a moment, and then the hunger returns. Ambition will lead you to momentary satisfaction, but it will not lead you to happiness.
John D. Rockefeller, the world’s first billionaire, was worth 1% of the entire U.S. economy when he was asked,
“How much money does it take to make a man happy?”
Rockefeller answered, “Just a little bit more.”
Ambition is never contented.
Am I condemning ambition? I promise you that I am not. I am merely pointing out the deep chasm that separates the unending hunger of ambition from the high and lofty contentment of happiness.
An old man named Paul wrote a letter to a young man named Timothy 2,000 years ago. Near the end of that letter, Paul wrote about old people and hypocrites and slavery and wealth.
Paul then added two sentences that have echoed in my brain for the past 60 years.
“To know God and to be deeply contented is the true definition of wealth. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”
Happiness cannot spread its wings while wearing the handcuffs of our ambitions. The shining light of Hope is made of a stronger and happier substance than our dark dreams of future accomplishment.
Ambition can bring you recognition, reputation, and riches. But those are no substitute for friendships, family, and contentment; for these are the three strong cords from which happiness is woven.
Have you figured it out yet? Happiness is not material. It is relational.
With whom do you have a meaningful relationship?
Roy H. Williams
Thank you for reading. Two weeks from now, I’ll have a new Musings for you with lots of pictures … I trust that some of you will find it interesting!
